I am Vegan

Friday, 23 November 2007

After climbing Arthurs seat and walking home I was in no mood for slaving over the stove for dinner so I made this soup, where you just chuck in what you have and leave simmering while you get changed into your P.J's and make a cup of tea.

Thursday, 22 November 2007

Well, it turns out that we couldn't get enough cookies while Bum was staying, so I just HAD to make more! This recipe is also a Martha rip-off, except a zillion times better! These are more crumbly and chunky then the thin 'n' chewy from the last post, I prefer this type of cookie. We took them up Arthurs Seat with a flask of coffee and it was amazing. The evening was clear and the sunset and views were outstanding. If you are in Edinburgh and the weather is good, I strongly recommed that you climb Arthurs seat, and while your at it, take these cookies!

Aaahhh...Cookies....Better than biscuits, cooler than cake. Our friend Bum was visiting for a couple of nights and I cooked up some Martha Stewart inspired Peanut Cookies for chewing on while we played turn-abouts on F-Zero-X on Andy's computer. They are cookies of the big-flat-chewy kind, but I left mine in for 5 minutes too long as it is really hard to tell when they are done and were a bit too crunchin'. My advice is to take them out the oven just before you think they are ready, so the edges go crispier when they come out the oven and the middle stays chewy and yummy.

Friday, 9 November 2007

Soup is brilliant. This one is extra yummy because of all the warming spices which compliment rather than over power the chickpeas and vegetables. It is adapted from a recipe in the Fat-free Vegan Kitchen, it looked so yummy I had to make it- but realising that I had none of the right veggies, free-styled it to make this super soup!

Thursday, 8 November 2007

Being a new Vegan, one thing I am grateful for is a convincing ice cream. I got a Swedish Glace one that tastes creamier than most dairy ice creams I have tried, so I am v. happy! It is expensive, but then again it is supposed to be a treat and not an everyday event (even if I want it everyday!). The hot chocolate sauce is a singe to make, and totally worth it!

Serves 2Chocco-nut Sundae:

First, be a clever cloggs and take your ice cream out to soften.

In a small microwave proof dish (I use a small glass tumbler) place around 6 cubes of chopped dark chocolate, 1 teaspoon of brown sugar, one heaped teaspoon of marge and around a teaspoons worth of golden syrup. Blast in micro for 10 seconds and stir, if the mixture is still lumpy give it another 5 seconds. If the mixture still has lumps and is hot, keep stirring and let the residual heat melt the chocolate. You defo don't want to burn the chocolate by blasting it for too long.

Chop up a banana, then a small handful of salted roasted cashews/peanuts (salty crunchy works crazy good with the creamy sweet of the ice cream and banana). Scoop ice cream in bowls and chuck banana and nuts on top then drizzle with lots of the sauce.

I'm super concious on this blog of posting brown bowls of sludge, as many other Vegan sites do...It just isn't appetising. This recipe is a bit sloppin', but very tasty, and the wedges make a perfect partner to dip in to this spicy delight!

*Firstly, the vegetables you put in are totally dependent on what you have in your cupboard or freezer. If you don't have a bunch of veggies to put in, try putting in another can of beans (maybe butterbean or even chickpeas) to bulk it up a bit.*

1/In a saucepan, gently fry the onion in a drizzle of veggie oil until the onion goes a bit transparent. Add the garlic and fry for a further 30 seconds, then add all the other ingredients.

2/Bring to a simmer, and leave simmering with a lid half on for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionaly until the parsnip and carrot are cooked. This should hopefully be around the same time as your wedges! If the mixture is too 'wet', try mixing a heaped teaspoon on plain flour in a little water then stir into the chilli for a few minutes.

Tuesday, 6 November 2007

Last night was Bonfire Night, and to celebrate I made treacle scones. What is more evocative of bonfire night than treacle , cinnamon and ginger? We took them out with a thermos of coffee and 2 mugs (with beer holders snuggly pulled over them for insulation!) and went down to the meadows to watch a thousand fireworks go off. It was freezing, but the scones made the chill worth it! If you are enjoying these scones indoors, try marmalade on them- it's divine.Treacle Scones

2/Mix in everything else and add small amounts of soya milk until a thick dough is formed.

3/Split dough in two and form into two circles about and inch and a half thick, and cut intoquarters. (This is the traditional way to cut the scones, but you could use boring old round cutter-outers if you desire.) Place on a baking tray.

4/If you like, brush with soya milk, and sprinkle granulated sugar on top.